💡 For an Irish visa, the Irish Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) requires two separate apostilles when you use a Vietnamese-based translator: one on the original document issued by Vietnam, and a second on the certified English translation itself. Vietnam joined the Apostille Convention on 11 September 2026, making both apostilles obtainable from Vietnam's MOFA in a single step. The translator provides the certified translation; the apostilles are your separate responsibility.
- All official Vietnamese documents for an Irish visa must be apostilled by Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
- Translations done outside the EEA or Switzerland also need their own apostille from the MOFA of the country where the translation occurred - so a translation prepared in Vietnam needs a second Vietnam MOFA apostille.
- Vietnam joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 11 September 2026, so both apostilles are now a single-step process at Vietnam's MOFA - no more multi-step consular legalization.
- USCIS (US immigration) requires only a certified English translation and no apostille at all - the opposite of Ireland.
- The certified translator provides the translation and signed certificate of accuracy. Apostilles are obtained separately through Vietnam's MOFA.
What does Ireland actually require for Vietnamese visa documents?
Ireland sits outside the Schengen Area and runs its own immigration rules under the Irish Immigration Service Delivery (ISD). For any applicant from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland - which includes Vietnamese applicants - the ISD enforces two requirements that catch people off guard.
First, any official state-issued document such as a birth certificate (giấy khai sinh), marriage certificate (giấy đăng ký kết hôn), or criminal record certificate must be apostilled as genuine by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country that issued it. For Vietnamese documents, that means Vietnam's MOFA.
Second, if the document is not in English or Irish, you must include a full certified English translation. Both the original and the translation must be submitted together. See when Vietnamese documents need both apostille and certified translation for a broader overview of how the two requirements interact.
Why does the certified translation also need its own apostille?
This is the rule that surprises most applicants. The Irish Immigration Service Delivery states clearly: translations done outside the EEA or Switzerland must be apostilled as genuine by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country where the translation was done.
If your Vietnamese translator is based in Vietnam (outside the EEA), the translation is done in Vietnam - so it also needs an apostille from Vietnam's MOFA. You end up with two separate apostilles: one on the original document, one on the certified translation.
A translation prepared by a certified translator inside an EEA country or Switzerland does not need that second apostille. But for most Vietnamese applicants who work with a Vietnamese-based translator, two apostilles are the practical reality. For comparison, apostille vs consular legalization covers how Vietnam's process changed in September 2026.
| Requirement | Ireland (ISD) | USCIS (US) | IRCC (Canada) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apostille on original document | Yes, Vietnam MOFA | No | No |
| Apostille on translation (done in Vietnam) | Yes, Vietnam MOFA | No | No |
| Certified translation required | Yes | Yes (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3)) | Yes |
| Certified true copy required | Not typically | No | No (certified copy only if specified) |
Does the two-apostille rule apply to all Irish visa types?
The rule applies across the full range of Irish long-stay and join-family visa categories: join-family visas, employment visas, study visas, and join-EEA-national applications. The specific documents you need vary by visa type - a join-family visa needs a marriage certificate, an employment visa needs a diploma and employment certificate - but the authentication and translation rules apply to all of them.
Short-stay C visas (tourist or visit) may have a lighter document list, but the ISD can still request original authenticated documents. Check the specific checklist on the ISD website for your visa category before you prepare your documents.
How do I get both apostilles from Vietnam's MOFA after 11 September 2026?
Vietnam acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention, which came into force on 11 September 2026. Before that date, getting a Vietnamese document recognised in Ireland required consular certification and then legalization at the Irish Embassy - a slow, multi-step chain. Since 11 September 2026, a single apostille stamp from Vietnam's MOFA replaces that entire chain for all 125 Apostille Convention member states, including Ireland. For more on what changed, see Vietnam apostille 2026: legalization gone, translation still required.
The same simplified process now applies to apostilling the translation: bring the certified translation to Vietnam's MOFA for an apostille. The fee is VND 30,000 per document. Processing is typically same-day or next business day at MOFA offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Practical order of steps:
- Obtain the original Vietnamese document (birth certificate, marriage certificate, or other required document).
- Bring the original to Vietnam's MOFA and get the apostille on the original.
- Commission a certified English translation from a professional certified translator.
- Bring the completed certified translation to Vietnam's MOFA and get the apostille on the translation.
- Submit both the apostilled original and the apostilled certified translation to the Irish consulate or ISD.
Ireland vs USCIS: a tale of two very different requirements
Vietnamese applicants who have previously filed with USCIS are often confused by Irish requirements because the two authorities work under entirely different rules. Under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), USCIS accepts a certified English translation accompanied by a signed certificate of accuracy. USCIS does not require an apostille on the original, and it does not require an apostille on the translation. There is no certified true copy requirement either.
Ireland's ISD is more demanding specifically around authentication: it wants the chain of authenticity verified at every stage. This also differs from Australia's Home Affairs and Canada's IRCC, neither of which imposes the dual-apostille rule.
If you have previously prepared documents for a USCIS filing and are now applying to Ireland, note that your existing translations - unless they were apostilled - do not meet Irish ISD requirements. See certified true copy vs certified translation for a clear breakdown of what each authentication step covers.
What does the certified translator provide - and what do you handle separately?
A certified Vietnamese document translation from a professional translator includes the full English translation plus a signed certificate of accuracy confirming the translation is complete and correct to the best of the translator's knowledge. This is what Irish ISD needs from the translation itself.
What the translator does NOT do: issue apostilles, certify true copies, or notarize documents. Apostilles are government acts performed by Vietnam's MOFA. Certified true copies (bản sao chứng thực) are issued by Vietnamese notary offices or People's Committees. These are separate steps you carry out independently.
Once you have your certified translation in hand, take it to Vietnam's MOFA for the apostille. The translation does not need to be notarized before being apostilled - the certificate of accuracy from the translator is sufficient for ISD purposes. Contact Dao Huy for a quote on certified Vietnamese translation for your Irish visa, including the certificate wording Irish ISD looks for.
FAQ
Do I need an apostille on my Vietnamese birth certificate for an Irish family visa?
Yes. Irish ISD requires all official state-issued documents from outside the EEA or Switzerland to be apostilled by the MOFA of the issuing country. For a Vietnamese birth certificate, that means an apostille from Vietnam's MOFA. Since 11 September 2026 you can obtain this at Vietnam's MOFA directly, replacing the old consular legalization chain.
Can I avoid the second apostille by hiring a translator based in Ireland or the EU?
Yes. If the certified translation is prepared by a translator based inside the EEA or Switzerland, Irish ISD does not require that translation to be apostilled. The translator must still provide a statement of accuracy, the translation date, and their full name, signature, and contact details. Make sure the translator is comfortable working with Vietnamese-language source documents.
Does an apostille expire for Irish visa purposes?
There is no universal expiry on the apostille certificate itself, but Irish ISD may ask for documents issued or certified within the last 12 months. Check the specific guidance for your visa category and factor in the time needed to obtain both apostilles when planning your application timeline.
Does the two-apostille rule also apply to Irish naturalisation applications?
Irish naturalisation applications are handled by the Immigration Service Delivery and follow broadly similar document-authentication rules. The core principle - that non-EEA documents and non-EEA translations must be apostilled - applies consistently across Irish immigration processes. Confirm the exact checklist with ISD or a registered immigration adviser for your specific naturalisation case.
What information must a certified translation include for Irish ISD?
Irish ISD requires: (1) confirmation from the translator that the translation is accurate and complete, (2) the date of the translation, (3) the translator's full name and signature, (4) the translator's contact details. The translation must cover all text on the original, including stamps, seals, and annotations.
Written by Dao Huy (Lucas), Vietnamese translator and localization specialist (English, Chinese and French into Vietnamese). See translation services → · Certified Documents →